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Melancholy

Musical

Example

Melancholy

Secret

Score

Melancholy

Animated

Score

Harmonies Against Melodies

We have placed specific harmonies over specific points in the melody to add another layer of uneasiness to the sound. In bar 1 the cello melody plays the first four notes of the E minor scale. The single violin note of a B sounds comfortable playing over that melody:

But in bar 2 we introduce some tension when the cello melody now begins and ends the bar with an F# while the violin harmony plays most of a C chord (a tritone relationship). Let's listen to what that sounds like:

In bar 3, the melody again begins on an F# while the violins play an E note and a D note. Let's hear what those notes sound like:

This creates an interval of a seventh between the cello melody and the lower note of the violin as well as a seventh between the lower note of the violin and its higher note. All these sevenths help to sustain a feeling of uncertainty.